Previous Seasons

Artists Presented by RCCA Since 1936
Enjoy a trip down memory lane. You'll be impressed with the artists presented by RCCA over the years.

1936 - 1937 (At the Shrine Temple)

• Lawrence Tibbett, baritone
• Helen Jepson, soprano
• Dalies Franz, piano
• Ruggiero Ricci, violin
• Carola Goya, Spanish dance

1937 - 1938

• Nelson Eddy, baritone
• Malcolm and Godden, piano
• Fowler and Tamara, Spanish dance
• Sigrid Onegin, contralto
• Tascha Seidel, violin

1938 - 1939

• John Charles Thomas, baritone
• Bidu Sayao, soprano
• Richard Crooks, tenor
• Robert Virovai, violin
• Harold Bauer, piano

1939 - 1940

• Marian Anderson, contralto
• Gladys Swarthout, mezzo-soprano
• Simon Barer, piano
• Albert Spalding, violin
• John Brownlee, baritone

1940 - 1941

• Lily Pons, soprano
• John Carter
• Anatol Kaminsky, violin
• Gregor Piatigorsky, cello
• Robert Casadesus, piano

1941 - 1942

• Grace Moore, soprano
• Vronsky and Babin, piano
• Zino Francescatti, violin
• Rose Bampton, soprano
• James Melton, tenor

1942 - 1943 (At the Coronado Theatre)

• Helen Traubel, soprano
• Dorothy Maynor, soprano
• Rudolf Firkusny, piano
• St. Louis Sinfonietta, Enya Gonzalez, soloist
• Patricia Travers, violin
• Igor Gorin, baritone

1943 - 1944

• Bruna Castagna, mezzo-soprano
• Columbia All-Star Quartet
• William Primrose, viola
• Rudolf Serkin, piano
• Richard Crooks, tenor

1944 - 1945

• Gladys Swarthout, mezzo-soprano
• Erica Morini, violin
• Busch Symphony, Eugene Istomin, piano
• Leonard Warren, baritone
• Marisa Regules, piano

1945 - 1946

• James Melton, tenor
• Portia White, contralto
• Appleton and Field, piano
• Risë Stevens, mezzo-soprano
• Arthur LeBlanc, violin

1946 - 1947

• Igor Gorin, baritone
• Yehudi Menuhin, violin
• Mona Paulee, soprano
• Nicolai and Johanna Graudan
• Appleton and Field, piano

1947 - 1948

• dePaur Chorus
• Maryla Jonas, piano
• Joseph Fuchs, violin
• Nan Merriman, mezzo-soprano
• Christopher Lynch

1948 - 1949

• Abbey Simon, piano
• Slavenska Ballet
• Pierrette Alarie, soprano
• Conrad Thibault, baritone
• Chicago Symphony, Charles Muench, conductor

1949 - 1950

• Philharmonic Piano Quartet
• John Carter
• Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor
• Carroll Glenn, violin
• Eileen Farrell, soprano

1950 - 1951

• Camilla Williams, soprano
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor
• Wagner Opera Company
• George London, bass-baritone
• Sigi Weissenberg, piano

1951 - 1952

• William Kappel, piano
• Robert Shaw Chorale
• Cincinnati Symphony, Thor Johnson, conductor
• Ennio Bolognini, cello
• Eleanor Steber, soprano

1952 - 1953

• Irmgard Seefried, soprano
• Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, conductor
• The Carolers
• Soloman
• William Warfield, bass-baritone

1953 - 1954

• Guard Republican Band of Paris
• Cleveland Symphony, George Szell, conductor
• Eugene Conley, tenor
• Mildred Miller, mezzo-soprano
• Whittemore and Lowe

1954 - 1955

• Cesare Siepi, bass
• Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
• Leon Fleisher, piano
• Frances Yeend, soprano
• Rochester Philharmonic, Samuel Sorin, pianist

1955 - 1956

• Vienna Academy Chorus
• Leontyne Price, soprano
• Detroit Symphony, Paul Paray, conductor
• Richard Tucker, tenor
• Rudolf Firkusny, piano

1956 - 1957

• Martha Lipton, mezzo-soprano
• NBC Opera, “Madama Butterfly”
• Berl Senofsky, violin
• Gold and Fizdale, piano
• Obernkirchen Children’s Choir

1957 - 1958

• Maureen Forrester, contralto
• Ozan Marsh, piano
• Ruth Page’s Chicago Opera Ballet
• Theodor Uppman, baritone
• Minneapolis Symphony, Alexander Brailowsky, piano soloist

1958 - 1959

• Carroll Glenn, violin, and Eugene List, piano
• Revelers Quartet
• Vronsky and Babin, piano
• Mildred Miller, mezzo-soprano
• Mantovani and His Orchestra

1959 - 1960

• Iglesian Ballet
• Leonard Pennario, piano
• New Orleans Symphony, Alexander Hilsberg, conductor
• Beverly Bower, soprano
• Jerome Hines, bass

1960 - 1961

• Mantovani and His Orchestra
• Whittemore and Lowe, piano
• Ruth Page’s Chicago Opera Ballet
• David Abel
• Theodor Uppman, baritone

1961 - 1962

• Jaime Laredo, violin
• Boston Pops Orchestra , Arthur Fielder, conductor
• Les Chanteurs de Paris Varel and Bailly
• Cornell MacNeil, bass-baritone
• Lorin Hollander, piano

1962 - 1963

• Orfeon Male Chorus of Coimbra, Portugal
• Risë Stevens, mezzo-soprano
• Beaux Arts Trio
• Hamburg Symphony, Istvan Kertesz, conductor
• Theodore Lettvin, piano

1963 - 1964

• David Bar-Illan, piano
• Mattiwilda Dobbs, soprano
• Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
• Robert Joffrey Ballet
• Isaac Stern, violin

1964 - 1965

• Schola Cantorum
• Malcolm Frager, piano
• Babin and Goldberg
• Earl Wrightson and Lois Hunt, baritone, soprano
• Pittsburgh Symphony, Walter Hendle, conductor

1965 - 1966

• Arthur Fielder and Buffalo Philharmonic, Ozan Marsh, pianist
• Netherlands String Quartet
• Whittemore and Lowe, piano
• Robert Merrill, bass
• Anna Russell, musical comedian

1966 - 1967

• Lili Chookasian, piano
• Elaine Skorodin, violin
• Van Cliburn, piano
• Minneapolis Symphony, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor
• Stockholm University Chorus

1967 - 1968

• Whit-Lo Singers
• William Walker
• Royal Winnipeg Ballet
• Byron Janis, piano
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jean Martinon, conductor

1968 - 1969

• Sidney Harth, violin
• Rudolf Serkin, piano
• Les Chanteurs de Paris, Varel and Bailly
• Israel Chamber Orchestra, Gary Bertini, conductor
• Roberta Peters, soprano

1969 - 1970

• National Ballet of Canada
• Lili Kraus, piano
• Chung Trio of Korea
• Simon Estes, bass-baritone
• Washington National Symphony, Arthur Fiedler, conductor

1970 - 1971

• Atlanta Symphony, Edith Peinemann, violin, Robert Shaw, conductor
• Beverly Sills, soprano
• Eugene Istomin, piano
• Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company
• Johann Strauss Ensemble of Vienna

1971 - 1972

• William Walker
• Hans Richter-Hauser
• Norman Luboff Choir
• Vienna Symphony
• Lenox Quartet

1972 - 1973

• Chicago Symphony, Henry Mazer, conductor
• Nancy Shade
• Frula Folk Dance
• Young Americans
• Jorge Bolet, piano

1973 - 1974

• Paul Schenly, piano
• Detroit Symphony, Christina Ortiz, pianist
• Music from Marlboro
• Marilyn Horne, mezzo-soprano
• Norwegian National Ballet

1974 - 1975

• Lilet Gampel
• Agnes DeMille American Heritage Dance Company
• Spanish Radio-TV Orchestra from Madrid
• Sprecher and Horowitz
• New Christy Minstrels

1975 - 1976

• Peter Nero
• National Orchestra of Scotland
• Lucnica Folk Ballet
• Welsh Choir of Cardiff
• Myun Whung Chung

1976 - 1977

• Buffalo Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
• Canadian Opera Company, “La Traviata”
• Claude Frank
• Vladimir Spivakov
• Richard Thomas Ballet Theatre

1977 - 1978

• Brazil Symphony Orchestra, Cristina Ortiz, pianist
• Jury’s Irish Cabaret of Dublin
• Rostal and Schaefer
• Ransom Wilson’s Virtuosi Wind Quintet
• William Walker and Louise Russell

1978 - 1979

• Indianapolis Symphony, John Nelson, conductor, Helen Armstrong, violin
• Ballet Folklorico
• Canadian Opera Company “Marriage of Figaro”
• David Golub
• William Hall Chorale

1979 - 1980

• Anna Moffo
• Saar Philharmonic of Germany
• Aman Dance Company
• Alexander Peskunov
• Eastern Brass Quintet

1980 - 1981

• Slovenia Philharmonic
• Texas Opera Theatre, “Cinderella”
• New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra
• Paul Schenly
• Stephen Dickson

1981 - 1982

• Shlomo Mintz
• Tamburitzans Folk Ensemble
• Sofia Philharmonic of Bulgaria
• Roger Wagner Chorale
• Israela Margalit

1982 - 1983

• Eastern Opera Theatre, “Barber of Seville”
• Obernkirchen Children’s Choir
• American Ballet Comedie
• Prague Chamber Orchestra, Boris Krajny, piano
• Paul Schenly, piano

1983 - 1984

• Swedish National Orchestra of Gothenberg
• “Story of Gilbert and Sullivan”
• Dennis Karmazyn, cello
• Nevada Dance Theatre
• Helen Armstrong, violin, James Gemmell, piano

1984 - 1985

• Canadian Brass
• Romanian National Choir
• Munich Chamber Orchestra, Young Uck Kim, violin
• Ken Noda, pianist
• Claudette Peterson and David Kline, “From Opera to Broadway”

1985 - 1986

• Leontyne Price
• Hungarian State Symphony
• Nevada Dance Theatre
• Bonn Wind Quintet
• Max Morath Quintet

1986 - 1987

• Canadian Brass
• Roger Wagner Chorale
• Royale Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Young Uck Kim, violinist
• Stars of the Pittsburgh Ballet
• Jeffrey Siegel, pianist

1987 - 1988

• John Browning, piano
• New York Vocal Arts Ensemble
• Northern Sinfonia of England, Barry Tuckwell, conductor-soloist
• Big Band Galaxy of Stars
• Phillip Creech, tenor

1988 - 1989

• Samuel Ramey, bass
• Dallas Brass
• Newport Jazz All-Stars
• Budapest Symphony, Leonard Pennario, piano
• Nevada Dance Theatre

1989 - 1990

• Vienna Chamber Philharmonic, Nigel Kennedy, violin
• National Folk Ballet of Yugoslavia
• Texas Opera Theatre, “Romeo and Juliet”
• Misha Dichter, piano
• Swingle Singers

1990 - 1991

• Ballet Francais de Nancy
• Slovak Chamber Orchestra
• New York Vocal Arts Ensemble
• Marvis Martin, soprano
• Empire Brass

1991 - 1992

• Sophia Chamber Orchestra
• A Salute to Cole Porter
• Mazowsze
• Westminster Choir
• Alexei Sultanov, piano

1992 - 1993

• Empire Brass
• Dean Peterson, bass-baritone
• Camerata Musica of Berlin
• Royal New Zealand Ballet
• Judy Carmichael, piano

1993 - 1994

• San Francisco Saxophone Quartet
• Jerry Hadley, tenor
• Russian State Chorus
• Americus Brass and
• Liege Philharmonic of Belgium, Ory Shihor, piano

1994 - 1995

• Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra
• Hungarian Virtuosi Orchestra
• John Bayless, piano
• Ballet Theatre de Bordeaux
• Faith Esham, soprano

1995 - 1996

• Central Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force
• Harlem Spiritual Ensemble with Martina Arroya, soprano
• Prague Chamber Orchestra, Simone Pedroni, piano
• Beaux Arts Trio
• Western Ballet Theatre

1996 - 1997

• Red Star Red Army Chorus & Dance Ensemble
• American Chamber Players, Miles Hoffman, A.D., with Martin Goldsmith
• Presidential Symphony Orchestra
• Jubilant Sykes, baritone, and Alan Chow, piano
• Dale Gonyea, piano

1997 - 1998

• John Bayless, piano
• Gil Shaham, violin
• Russian Seasons Dance Company
• American Rhapsody
• Bulgarian Children’s Chorus

1998 - 1999

• River City Brass
• Black Mountain Male Choir of Wales
• Rajko Song & Dance Ensemble
• Jan Gottlieb Jiracek, piano
• Direct from Broadway

1999 - 2000 (At the Metro Centre)

• Tribute to a Century
• Taylor 2 Dance Company
• Side Street Strutters Jazz Band
• Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats
• Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic

2000 - 2001

• Paragon Ragtime
• (At the Renovated Coronado Theatre)
• Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico
• Rockford Symphony Orchestra with Ignat Solzhenitsyn
• Gil and Orli Shaham
• Bolcom & Morris

2001 - 2002

• Itzhak Perlman
• Quartetto Gelato
• Frula Folk Dance
• Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra
• Boston Brass

2002 - 2003

• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Emanuel Ax and the King’s Singers
• Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats
• Three Mo’ Tenors
• Dean Peterson, bass baritone

2003 - 2004

• Pilobolus Dance Theatre and the St. Lawrence String Quartet
• Samuel Ramey and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra
• James Lent
• American Boychoir
• Imani Winds

2004 - 2005

• Lang Lang, piano
• Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
• Teatro Lyrico d’Europa, “Carmen”
• Canadian Brass
• Russian National Ballet Theatre of Moscow, “Sleeping Beauty”

2005 - 2006

• Corey Cerovsek, violin
• Sophia Symphony Orchestra & Ballet Arabesque - Carmina Burana/Bolero
• The Black Watch/The Band of the Welsh Guards
• Cirque Eloize
• Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

2006 - 2007

• Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
• Simon Trpceski, piano
• Teatro Lyrico d'Europa, "Turandot"
• The Chieftains
• Russian National Ballet Theatre of Moscow, (Romeo and Juliet)

2007 - 2008

• Georgian State Dance Company
• The 5 Browns, piano
• Irwin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
• Nathan Gunn, baritone, RESCHEDULED
• La Pietà with Angèle Dubeau, string ensemble

2008 - 2009

• Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci
• Paul Taylor Dance Company
• Czech Symphony Orchestra with Jennifer Frautschi, Violin
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• Burning River Brass

2009 - 2010

• Soyeon Lee
• Vienna Boys Choir
• Philharmonia of the Nations with Jon Nakamatsu, Pianist
• Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
• Sergio & Odair Assad & Friends